Sue Eaddy
contributing writer
The Dog That Saved Christmas
B
eing very family oriented made Christmas special as
assuring awaiting family members that the store we owned and
we just need to be thankful that it was just the gifts that were lost
our entire family would gather every Christmas Eve
operated would close at 6pm sharp and we would be on our way.
and that no one was hurt.” The family agreed that the gifts didn’t
and spend the night together, sleeping wherever we
Being in the retail business made the Christmas season excit-
matter, for us to just come on.
could find room. When I married into this family, it
ing but very tiring for our family. We opened our store in 1980.
took a little time to get comfortable with this tradition. I mean,
Brad was ten, Michelle nine and Jennifer was four. They grew up
really, shouldn’t we start our own traditions? Shouldn’t our chil-
many times falling asleep on the floor in the back of the store at
dren be at home for Santa’s visit? After all, we now had three chil-
Christmas time, as Fred and I both worked in the store and Fred
dren - Brad, Michelle and Jennifer. Going off to spend Christmas
would work into the wee hours of the morning sizing rings to be
Eve was a major ordeal. I wrestled with this secretly in my mind,
picked up the next day. When old enough to help, the children all
but once I saw the joy on the faces of the grandparents as they
worked in the store and we were all exhausted by Christmas Eve.
watched the children’s excitement on Christmas morning, I knew
Six o’clock finally came and the doors were locked. The car was
it was all worth while. Could I take this away from them? No, this
packed, except for Christmas presents and what Santa would
the gifts that were taken. What a wonderful time of celebrating
was special. I eventually came to realize that I loved this and
bring the kids. Being in the jewelry business, many of our gifts
we had! The cousins were giggling and playing, and the women
wouldn’t want to spend Christmas any other way.
came from the store wrapped in small packages, therefore one
had gotten up early to get breakfast started. Aunt Maxine’s cas-
This year we would be going to Aunt Maxine and Uncle Tom’s
box held many gifts. After carefully placing the last box in the car,
serole went in the oven first . The aroma of coffee and breakfast
house, which was two hours away. There would be punch and
I walked back in the store and announced that everything was
cooking filled the house and added to the wonderful memories
coffee waiting. Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Maxine would be busi-
ready to go. Fred called to let the breeder know we were on our
that we would come to treasure. Uncle Tom was busy research-
ly putting out barbeque sandwiches and an array of Christmas
way to pick up the puppy. This took no more than three minutes.
goodies, i.e., fruitcake cookies, chocolate peanut butter balls,
When we walked outside to leave, we noticed the car door was
ing the history of the Pomeranian and suggested that because he
lady fingers, chocolate and caramel cakes. Enough scrumptious
open... I had failed to lock it and all of the gifts had been stolen!
food to make any dieter’s willpower weaken.
My heart sunk. I know Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. God
This year would be really special because we decided to sur-
sent His Son to die for our sins to provide salvation if we only be-
prise our children with a pet. Every time they had asked for a pet,
lieve, accept and repent. But, our tradition of giving gifts to each
we said no just because we didn’t want the added pressures that
other as the wise men brought gifts to Jesus was our way of cele-
come along with caring for one. But for some reason, we had
brating His birth. What now? The gifts were gone!
Pomeranians and continued on to enjoy celebrating the birth of
Christ with our family. When we arrived, the new puppy was the
center of attention. All the cousins - Eaddy, Chris, Donald and
Dean - took turns making the new puppy feel welcome and loved.
On Christmas morning, as usual, the children woke up early to
see what Santa left. The new puppy more than filled the void of
was of Polish decent and was born in the Pee Dee, he should be
named Cassimer Pee Dee Polaski, after a Polish general. We all
agreed but decided that he would be called Cassie. Cassie saved
Christmas that year because he was the only gift we had left.
We all got a good laugh on Christmas morning when Grandmama Eaddy was told that the beautiful strand of pearls we had
weakened and decided it was time to increase our family unit.
We went back inside and made the call to let everyone know
picked out for her was in the box that was taken. Things suddenly
We had made plans to pick up our new addition on the way out of
what had happened. We were now leaving but had no gifts for
became more personal; her sweet attitude of just being glad no
town on Christmas Eve.
anyone. They had all been taken. After a few minutes of rehashing
one was hurt quickly turned to “I wish I could get my hands on
the details as to how it happened, Grandmama Eaddy said, “Well,
whoever stole that stuff!”
Many times that day, someone would be heard on the phone
We headed on to the breeder and picked out the cutest of the
56
DECEMBER 2015
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